About the team
This role is within Paul Dowling's team, which specialises in international civil litigation. The team's work spans environmental litigation, international injury and abuse, and international corruption & whistleblowing.
The successful candidate will be focused on the corruption and whistleblowing side of the team in the short to medium term, including the ongoing case of Foxley MOD & Ors, which involves allegations against the MoD and Airbus of conspiring to bribe Saudi Royals in exchange for a defence contract. The role will also support on wider individual and group claims within the team including offering support in an ongoing claim against a large investment bank for failure to train an employee to utilise lawful electronic trading strategies during his employment, resulting in the employee's imprisonment in a foreign jurisdiction.
Overall purpose of the role
- To work as a paralegal as part of a team working on international whistleblowing and corruption cases.
- Assisting solicitors to review and progress new client enquiries (NCEs), which will include tasks such as reviewing documentation, taking instructions from the NCEs, drafting chronologies and identifying key issues and key individuals, as well as assisting with ongoing matters where required.
- The nature of the role will mean that the successful candidate will be provided with significant opportunities to undertake a wide variety of work, and to develop their legal skills.
Main duties and responsibilities include
- Analysing documents and data.
- Legal research.
- Liaising with clients, NCEs, barristers, other solicitors, experts, costs draftsmen, the courts and others to arrange meetings and also to give and receive information and documents.
- Assisting with, under supervision from a solicitor, drafting of: inter-partes correspondence; instructions to counsel and experts; pre-action correspondence; court applications and other documents.
- File and case management, and general administrative support.
File/case management
- Attend court for applications, hearings, trials etc. when requested to do so.
- Thorough and accurate notetaking at meetings and preparation of file notes.
- Preparing court and other documents for approval by fee-earners.
- Organising and preparing court and other bundles including counsel briefs and instructions to experts.
- Ensuring that Lexcel and data protection obligations are met.
Client relations
- Communicating effectively, adopting an approachable and professional manner in all dealings.
- Liaising with accounts staff, completing petty cash requests and reimbursements from accounts, dealing with invoices and fee notes.
Filing
- Applying excellent organisational skills to maintain complete internal and client files, including all associated tasks such as file opening, regularly updating case information, the timely and accurate filing of correspondence and documents, time recording and ledgers, preparation of bills and costs information as needed, and file closing.
- Paying attention to detail and ensuring accuracy.
Information technology
- Using IT to provide a high quality, cost effective and efficient service to clients.
- Demonstrable experience of excel skills at a high level.
Training
- Undertaking training where needed to be able to deliver a high quality and effective team coordination service.
- Keeping knowledge up to date by attending in-house seminars, carrying out research, reading and attending courses where appropriate.
- Undertaking IT training to be able to provide leadership and support to team members on the use of all of the technology available.
Performance measured by
- Effective prioritisation and management of a busy workload so as to meet multiple and often competing deadlines.
- Timely and accurate filing and preparation of court documents including bundles.
- Contributing to an efficient, calm, and well-ordered environment in which the team can carry out its work effectively.
- Responding in a helpful and professional way in all work interactions.
- Delivery of an efficient, accurate and speedy service.
- Working with initiative; maintaining a flexible and responsible approach.
- Personal development and contribution to the overall objectives of the firm.
- Good attendance and meeting chargeable hours targets.
Person specification
- Solid understanding of litigation procedures.
- Relevant legal qualifications (LLB or GDL or LPC or LLM or MA in law or relevant field).
- Demonstrable experience in drafting legal documentation and correspondence, sorting and reviewing financial records.
- Demonstrable paralegal and / or legal experience with reference to drafting and analysing documents, client liaison and legal research.
- High level of self-organisation as well as demonstrated ability to assist others in organising files and materials necessary for performance of their work.
- Must be both self-reliant and a team player, self-directed and flexible, and possess a composed demeanour under pressure.
- Ability to work independently under minimal direction.
- Excellent communication skills, demonstrated by ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.
- Demonstrable experience of a high level of proficiency in IT, especially with word and excel skills, fast and accurate keyboard skills and ability to work with a database.
- Proven experience in dealing sensitively with vulnerable clients and managing difficult situations and conversations professionally.
- Proven ability to organise and prioritise a complex workload and work to tight deadlines whilst maintaining a positive attitude.
- Proven ability to take initiative, work and contribute to a team environment and maintain a professional conduct.
- High level of numeracy and good at problem solving.
About Leigh Day
We are a top 100 law firm committed to claimant-only cases, ensuring that individuals have the same access to justice as the UK Government and large corporations. We're not afraid to take on difficult and challenging cases involving medical negligence, serious personal injuries, discrimination in the workplace, defective products and human rights abuses in this country and overseas.
Benefits
29 days' holiday per annum inclusive of 4 days' compulsory leave to be taken during the Christmas office closure, plus all public and bank holidays; two weeks' of working elsewhere; contributory pension scheme; life assurance (4 times annual salary); private medical insurance; interest free season ticket loan; childcare vouchers; cycle to work scheme; electric vehicle scheme. Our hybrid working policy for full-time employees is three days in the office and two at home, and we also offer free breakfast and lunch every day for those coming into to the office.
We also have annual social activities and genuinely pride ourselves on having a supportive and friendly culture.
Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
Leigh Day is committed to the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We value the diversity of our colleagues, our clients and the third parties with whom we work. We seek to create an environment where everyone feels included and valued for their unique characteristics, skills and abilities and supported in their needs and responsibilities.
We welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. Please let us know if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application or recruitment process. There is an option to detail this on your application form, however, please just get in touch should you wish to discuss this prior to formally submitting an application. Please note all conversations or disclosures are treated in the strictest confidence.
